The Unexpected Path That Led Me to Mindfulness

Amanda Wilson · 2026-10-16

When I first heard about Thaddaeus Washington, I didn't expect a musician to be the one teaching me about mindfulness. But that's the thing about this journey—it rarely follows a straight line. Thadd, a Toledo-based artist and founder of MIND Music, sees music as medicine. And after listening to his compositions, I get it. His original pieces aren't just songs; they're meditative practices. They pull you into the present moment, whether you're ready or not. ### How Music Became My Anchor I've tried meditation apps, breathing exercises, and even silent retreats. But nothing stuck until I realized that mindfulness doesn't have to look a certain way. For Thadd, it's about sound. For you, it might be something else entirely. The point is to find what anchors you. His music does that for me—it's like a gentle nudge back to now. And that's what mindfulness is, really. It's not about emptying your mind; it's about coming home to your senses. ### The Science Behind Sound as Medicine It's not just woo-woo. Research shows that certain frequencies and rhythms can lower cortisol levels and trigger the relaxation response. Thadd's compositions are designed with that in mind. They're slow, layered, and intentional. When I put on my headphones and close my eyes, I can feel my shoulders drop. My breath deepens. It's a small shift, but it adds up. And in a world that's constantly pulling at your attention, that small shift is everything. ### A Practice You Can Start Today You don't need to be a musician or a meditation expert to begin. Here's what worked for me: - **Start with five minutes.** That's it. Five minutes of listening—really listening—to a piece of music. No multitasking. Just you and the sound. - **Notice the pauses.** Between notes, there's silence. That silence is part of the music. In the same way, the pauses in your day are part of your life. - **Let it be easy.** If your mind wanders, that's fine. Gently bring it back to the sound. That's the practice. > "Mindfulness isn't about getting somewhere. It's about being where you are." That quote hangs on my fridge. I wrote it after one particularly stressful week when I realized I'd been rushing through everything—including my mindfulness practice. The irony wasn't lost on me. But that's the thing: the journey is messy. You'll forget to be present. You'll get distracted. And then you'll remember again. That's the whole cycle. ### What I've Learned So Far If there's one takeaway from my journey, it's this: mindfulness is personal. Thadd found it through music. You might find it through walking, cooking, or even washing dishes. The goal isn't to copy someone else's path. It's to notice your own. And when you do, you'll realize you've been mindful all along—you just didn't have a name for it. So here's my invitation to you: find your anchor. It might be a song, a breath, or a quiet moment in your car before you walk into the house. Whatever it is, give it your attention. That's where the journey begins.